A model for sound propagation between two adsorbing microporous plates

Virtual Loudspeaker Effect of Graphene-Based Hybrid Material To Improve Low-Frequency Acoustic Performance

Closed-box loudspeaker systems (CBLSSs) are compact and simple air-suspension loudspeaker systems, and their low-frequency responses are determined by two fundamental parameters: resonance frequency and total damping. Recently, electronic devices have come to require more compact designs, so the volumes of loudspeaker should be reduced. However, a small loudspeaker cannot retain sufficient acoustic space, resulting in poor low-frequency acoustic performance. Herein, we investigated acoustic characterization of the CBLSS with different filling materials such as thermally expanded graphene oxide (TEGO), activated carbon, graphene platelets, and melamine foam (MF). Upon the powder-based test, the resonance frequency of the loudspeaker decreased and resulted in a volume increasing effect inside of the loudspeaker. The TEGO shows almost double volume increase rate, compared to other particle-based filling materials. Employing hybrid filling material that consists of TEGO in an MF cage (TEGO@MF), the volume increase rate of the novel loudspeaker was over 24% at 300 cc. Because of the high adsorptive characteristics and thermal properties of TEGO, the acoustic performance in the low-frequency domain was clearly enhanced, despite the reduced mass loading. Furthermore, these properties were observed to be highly effective for enhancing the low-frequency acoustic performance of the larger loudspeaker, achieving a volume increase rate of 49.5% in a 700 cc enclosure.

Adsorption-Mediated Mass Streaming in a Standing Acoustic Wave

Oscillating flows can generate nonzero, time-averaged fluxes despite the velocity averaging zero over an oscillation cycle. Here, we report such a flux, a nonlinear resultant of the interaction between oscillating velocity and concentration fields. Specifically, we study a gas mixture sustaining a standing acoustic wave, where an adsorbent coats the solid boundary in contact with the gas mixture. It is found that the sound wave produces a significant, time-averaged preferential flux of a "reactive" component that undergoes a reversible sorption process. This effect is measured experimentally for an air-water vapor mixture. An approximate model is shown to be in good agreement with the experimental observations, and further reveals the interplay between the sound-wave characteristics and the properties of the gas-solid sorbate-sorbent pair. The preferential flux generated by this mechanism may have potential in separation processes.

Influence of sorption on sound propagation in granular activated carbon

Granular activated carbon (GAC) has numerous applications due to its ability to adsorb and desorb gas molecules. Recently, it has been shown to exhibit unusually high low frequency sound absorption. This behavior is determined by both the multi-scale nature of the material, i.e., the existence of three scales of heterogeneities, and physical processes specific to micro- and nanometer-size pores, i.e., rarefaction and sorption effects. To account for these processes a model for sound propagation in GAC is developed in this work. A methodology for characterizing GAC which includes optical granulometry, flow resistivity measurements, and the derivation of the inner-particle model parameters from acoustical and non-acoustical measurements is also presented. The model agrees with measurements of normal incidence surface impedance and sound absorption coefficient on three different GAC samples.